Machine for cleaning and reconditioning concrete wall form panels



April 2, 1963 R. KORT 3,083,388

MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS' 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1961 it INVENTOR. ROMAN KORT ATT'Y Apnl2, 1963 R. KORT 3,083,388

MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS FiledMarch 16, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: R0 MA N KO RT 'ATT 'Y' Aprll2, 1963 R. KORT 3, 3, 8

MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS FiledMarch 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill INV EN TOR:

. ROMAN KORTv MACHENE FOR CLEAR NG AND RECONDITION- ING CONCRETE WALL.FGRM PANELS: Roman Kort, River Forest, Ill assignor to Symons Mfg.Company, a corporation of Delaware FiledMar. 16, 1%1, Ser. No. 96,182 '7Qlaims. (Cl; 15-93) The present invention relates to a machine forcleaning and reconditioning concrete wall form panels after-they havebeen in service and preparatory to reusing them ina subsequent concretewall form or other installation. More specifically, the invention isconcerned with a panel-cleaning machine by means of which concrete formpanels of the type commonly known as Steel-Ply? panels may be divestedof any concrete which may adhere to'the' plywood panel facings and tothe marginal steel frame members associated therewith. The invention is,however, by no means limited to such use and a panel-scru'bbingmachineconstructed in accordance with the principles of-the present inventionmy be found useful in connection with concrete form panels other thanSteel-Ply panels, for-example, panels having metal panel facings, panelshaving wooden frame members, or'filler panels, filler strips and a widevariety of other special make-up units. Irrespective of-the particularuse he put, the essential times preserved.

Steel-Ply panels are widely used in industry and are tallic rectangularreinforcing frame including longitudinal.

and transverse frame. members. Such a panel is adapted to be set up inedge-to-edge relationship with similarpanels to provide one of twoopposed form structures wherein the facings of the panels oppose eachother in spaced relationship and wet concrete is adapted to be pouredbetween the two structures.

a common horizontal plane so thatthe-concrete may be poured on thecontinuous unbroken upwardly presented slab-supporting surface offeredthereby.

Steel-Ply panels of this type under consideration are manufactured insizes which vary both asto length and width, the latter dimensionbeing afactor of particular importance to the present invention. Such panelsare manufactured in widthsranging from four inches upto twenty-fourinches. Regardless of the size of the panels, the marginal steel framemembers remain substantially the same in cross-sectional configuration,each of these frame members being generally of shallow channel shape andpresenting marginal ribs and an interconnecting web.

The ribs are notched at various distances so that when adjacent edgerelationship,

along their length tion therethrough of tie rods. Additionally, the webportions of the frame members are formed with rectangular slots thereinso that fastening devices in the form of T-bolts which are passedthrough'the slots may be employed for anchoring the ends of the tierods'in to which the present invention mayfeatures of'the invention areat all filed on November 23, 1959, now Patent No;

Such panels also find use in connection with the formation of horizontalfloor and ceil-' ing slabs and, in such an instance, they arearrangedin. edge-to-edge relationship with the panel, facings lyingzinpanels are positioned in 'edge#to-. adjacent notches move into registerand define therebet-ween rectangular openings forthe recepposition,

facingsforfutureuse in'that'it affords 2: all'in 'a manner that has beenset forth inthe aforementioned patent application.

The notched marginal ribs and the slotted webs in the marginal framemembers of Steel-Ply panels render the outside surfaces of these framemembers irregular in contour and thus it is an extremely difficult taskto clean such panels by manual operations. There is a tendency forconcrete to adhere to the marginal frame members and collect in thevarious notches and slots so that extraordinary measures mustbe'resorted to in order to'dis-' lodge the accumulated or depositedconcrete. Frequently, it is necessaryin'stubborn'cases to resortto theuse of impact tools such-as hammer and chisel. Less difiic'ulty isencountered in-cleaning the-plywood facingsof such panels inasmuch as ithas long been customary to treat these facingswith a suitable oil thatnot only preserves the wood structure of thefacings, but alsoconditions-the antifriction or antiadherent coatings for the facingswhich greatly lessens the tendency for the concrete to adhere to thefacings at the time that the panels are pulled from concrete wall orother structure. Usually any concrete which does-adhere to a plywoodfacingwhich'has been properly lubricated or coated with oil may readilybe dislodged bya simple brushing operation.

Heretofore panel-cleaning and lubricating operations have been entirelymanual and thus attendedby the timeconsuming and laborious operationsoutlined above, hammers, chi'sels aud -Wire brushes of varying typesbeing required for the cleaning operation, and oil-soaked wastebeing-required for the lubricating or coating operation. Not only aresuch operations time-consuming but they are ofan'untidy nature,requiring, as they do, quantities of-waste1 material andcontainers foroil-rinsing purposes.

The: present invention is designed to overcome the above notedlimitations that are attendant upon present-day manual methodsoflcleaning. and reconditioning concrete form pauelsiand,.toward thisend, it contemplates the provision of a substantially fully automaticmachine which will receive the panels one. at a time. at a loadingstation; then pass-the panels'successively through a frame-cleaningstationwvhere the marginal frame members are effectively divested .ofany concrete which may have adhered thereto from a previous use.

The provision of a concrete Wall form panel-cleaning.

and-reconditioning machine of the character briefiy outlined .abovebeing among the principal objects of the invention, it is-another andimportant object to provide such a machine wherein the mechanismemployed for divesting the marginal steel frame concrete. willaccommodate the irregularities of contour alfordedbytheabove-mentionedmarginal ribs, notches, slots, etc., and dislodge theconcrete-from these frame members wherever it may. occur.

A stillfurther object-of the invention is to provide in apanel-cleaningmachine of the character under considerationmans. wherebypanels of varyingwidths may readily be accommodated without requiringextensivemachine adjustments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel-' cleaningmachine. wherein, after an initial feeding of .a panel into the machineat the receiving station, the panel is automatically impelled throughthe'machineat the proper speed for the most effective thereupon by thecleaning instrumenta-lities of the machine.

Still'anotherobjcct of 'the invention is to provide a panelscleaning andreconditioning machine wherein a given runof panels may be effectivelyoperated uponby the machine under the control of a single operator.

Theprovisionofa machine-which is-relatively simple in its constructionand which, therefore,- may be manuthe hardened members-of the panelsfrom cleaning operation factured at a low cost; one which is rugged anddurable and which, therefore, will withstand rough usage; one which iscapable of ease of assembly and dismantlement for purposes ofinspection, replacement of parts or repair thereof; one which is compactand which, therefore, ccupies but little floor space, one which issmooth and silent in its operation; and one which otherwise iswell-adapted to perform the services required of it, are furtherdesiderata which have been and development of the present invention.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention has beenshown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a concrete wall formcleaning and reconditioning machine constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the angle or position representedby the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional'view taken substantially on the vertical planeindicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the angle or position representedby the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a concreteborne in mind in theproduction dislodging scraper assembly employed in connection with theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, somewhat schematic inits representation, illustrating the manner in which the scraperassembly of FIG. 6 operates upon a panel frame member; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the operation of theprincipal moving component parts of the machine.

The Machine Framework Referring now to the drawings in detail, and inparticular to FIG. 1, the concrete wall form panel-cleaning andreconditioning machine of the present invention has been designated inits entirety by the reference numeral 10 and it involves in its generalorganization a stationary frame work including a pair of elongated,horizontal, spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel side bars 12and 14 which are maintained in their spaced relationship by Crossbars 16and which are supported upon legs 18. The side bars 12 and 14 are inrtheform of lengths of channel stock while the crossbars 16 and legs 18 maybe in the form of lengths of'angle stock, the various members beingsuitably welded together.

Spaced inwards from the side bars 12 and 14 are two guide rails 26 and22, each of which is generally Z-sha-pe in transverse cross section andincludes an upwardly extending flange 24, a downwardly extending flange26, and

a horizontal intermediate connecting web 28. The inside face of theupwardly extending flange 24 of the guide rail constitutes a verticalguide surface for one marginal side edge of each concrete wall formpanel undergoing treatment in the machine while the other marginal sideedges of the panel is guided by the vertical surface which is presentedby the web portion 3% of an elongated channel member 32 which has itslower flange 34 supported on and welded to the horizontal connecting web28 of-the guide rail 22. The channel member 32 is substantallycoextensive with the guide rail 22 and the upper flange 36 of thechannel member 32 is connected to the side bar 14 by a spacer strut 38.The upper edge of the vertical flange 24 of the guide rail 20 issimilarly connected to the side bar 12 by a spacer strut 4&9.

The'machine framework further includes four upstand ing posts 42, 44, 46and 48 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) which are secured to the frame side bars12 and i4 and project upwardly thereabove. The posts 42 and as areconnected together by an elongated transversely extending invertedchannelsh'aped rail housing 5K while a similar rail housing 52 extendsbetween the upper ends of the posts 44 and 43. Longitudinally extendingstraps 54 extend between the posts 42 and 44 and the posts 46 and 48,respectively. The four posts 42, 44, 46 and 48, together with the railhousings 5t? and S2 and the straps 54, provide, in effect, asuperstructure by means of which a motor-supporting carriage 60 isslidable transversely of the machine in a manner and for a purpose thatwill be made clear presently.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 9, a plurality of transversely extendinghorizontal roller supports 62 extend between the lower downwardlyextending flanges 26 of the guide rails 20 and 22 and have their endsprovided with pivot pins or trunnions whereby they are rotatablyjournalied in the rails. The roller supports 62 are substantiallyequidistantly spaced from each other insofar as adjacent supports areconcerned and the series of supports extends from the front end of themachine to the rear end thereof. The roller supports 62 are adapted toreceive thereon successive form panels, such as the panel shown at 64 inFIG. 9, at a receiving station R adjacent to the front end of themachine, and afford an antifriction traction support for the panels sothat the latter may be conducted rearwardly through the machine betweenthe guide rails and discharged at the rear end of the machine at adischarge station D.

T he Steel-Ply" Panel 64 In the schematic illustration of FIG. 9, theprincipal functional machine elements are clearly shown and reference tothis view will disclose the manner in which a given panel 64 is operatedupon by the machine for panelcleaning and reconditioning purposes.However, before entering into a description of the operative machineelements, it is deemed pertinent to point out that the panel 64 in thisview is a Steel-Ply panel of the type which is shown and described inaforementioned pending United States patent application Serial No.854,967, such a panel being currently manufactured and sold by saidSymons Clamp & Mfg. Co. as aforesaid. Reference may be had to suchpatent application for a full understanding of the construction and useof a Steel-Ply panel and it is sufiicient for an understanding of theoperation of the resent panel-cleaning and reconditioning machine topoint out that such a panel consists essentially of a plywood dacing 79,together with a marginal rectangular steel reinforcing frame includinglongitudinal frame members 72 and transverse frame members 74. The framemembers '72 and 7d are in the form of structural steel bars which arechannel-shaped in cross section, and each bar comprises a pair ofmarginal ribs 75 and a connecting base or web portion 78. On the side ofthe web portion 73 that is opposite .to the ribs '76, is a lateralflange or enlargement 8b which is spaced inwardly a slight distance fromthe inside edge of the frame member and affords a right angle recess =82in which the adjacent edge of the plywood facing 70 seats with itsoutside face flush with said inside edge of the frame member. The ribs76 are formed with spaced pairs of transversely registering notches 84.Rectangular slots 86 are formed in each web portion 7 S and theyregister with each pair of notches 84- respectively. The notches 84afford clearance regions for passage of tie rods between adjacent panelswhen the panels are arranged in edge-to-edge relationship in a concretewall form installation, and the slots 36 are provided for the purpose ofreceiving T-bolts to hold the ends of the tie rods in place, all in amanner which has been disclosed in the aforementioned patentapplication. The notched ribs 76 and the rectangular slots do aresignificant to the present invention only in, that they illustratetheirregularity of the surface contour, of the longi; tudinal and.transverse frame members '72 and 7'4 and-the problem which suchirregularity presents when cleaning operations are eifected upc-ntheselongitudinal and transverse members.

T he Operating S rations Still referringto FIG. 1 and FIG. 9,invpassingfronr.

the receiving station R to the discharge station D, the various panels64- are conducted through a side cleaning station S where the panelsides, i.e., the longitudinal and transverse frame members72 and '74,may be operated upon by a pair of rotary concrete-dislodging scraperas-s semblies 90 and 92'on opposite sidesof the machine.

From the side cleaning station S, the panels are conducted j seriesorgroup of the roller supports-62. Said series of roller supports ispositively drivenby the belt 95'with the resultthatthe panelsareforcibly conducted through the side cleaning station S. Thelongitudinal extent'of the panels 64- is sufiiciently great thatcontrolof forward movement of the panels is not relinquished by the belt untilsuch time as the panels have been projected Well into the brushingstation E. Where a single panel 64 is. undergoing treatment, it may beinduced to complete its passage through the brushing station B by manualurging, thereof, but Where. successive panels are undergoing. treatment,the forward or leading edge region of a ,suc:

ceedingpanel willengage the rear or trailing edge regionofaprecedingpanel andcause it to be pushed forwardly through thelubricating station and from. thence to. the.

discharge station where it will automatically, be ejected from themachine.

The Receiving Station R The receiving station. R is devoid ofoperatinginstrm roller supports 62... This station is at the extremeforwardend region ofthementalities other than the antifriction machineand the various panels 64 may be upon the roller supports62 ment throughthe machine,

placed directly ofthe channel member 32 ,andithen move the panel for?wardly along the series of roller supportsfiz so that upon release ofthe panel by the operator, the-inherent mo-. mentum of. the panel willcause-the panel tocoast. to. a point whereits forward edge will beblgagcd by the belt 9 5'and by the roller supports 62 thatsare driventhereby for subsequent forcible impelling movement through the machine.

A control. box 1%, including its associated control panel 152, switchesH24 and other electrical control instrumentalities, is shown as.beingmountedon the side, bar 12 at the receivingstation Rwhere it isaccessible, to

the operator of the machine. are associated withthe control thepresentginvention and it is. that the four electric switches wall of thecontrol box liltl-andare collectivelydesignatedby thereference numeral104 serve to control the energizationand deenergization of the fourelectric motors which areassociatedwith the, machine and the functionsof which willbe described subsequently.

The control devices which box llidiform no part of deemedsufiicient tostate of roller supports. 62, arepicked up, so to speak, by a drive belt95 and a for subsequent forward move It ismerely necessary fortheoperator to position one longitudinal-side edgeof the panel against thevertical inside face of theweb portion 3i) which appear on the top.

6 The Side Cleaning Station S Referring-now to FIGS.- 1,3, 4 and-5,thepreviously described superstructure which is formed by the four verticalupstanding posts 42, 44; 46'and-48 is disposed at the side cleaningstation 8 and is for the purpose. oftractionally supporting thepreviously-mentioned carriage 60. Such carriage consists of a horizontalplate-v (FIGS. 4 and. 5). and a vertical'plate 112.; The, plate-110ziisprovided with upstanding marginal side .flanges ll t-which carrysuspension links having traction rollers ltd. mounted: on their upperends; The traction rollers 1116 are adapted to travel on railsllflinassociated relation With the railhousingsSO and-52'at the topofthesuperl structure. The vertical plate eral trapezoidal flange 112 isprovided-with a lat- 12lto which there is attached a handle 122 by meansof which the carriage 60 asa whole I may be shifted transversely of themachine =in either direction.

The vertical plate 112 of the-carriage 60 has-secured thereto a motorsupport or mount 124 for-arr electric motor M which'isarranged sothat-its axis extends vertically and its armature shaft 126 depends fromthe motor housing 128. thereof. The-verticalplate 112 has mountedthereon adjacent to the supporting bracket 130 which carriesa pair ofvertically spaced bearlngsupports 13?; for a vertical shaft 134.The-latteris associated with, and serves as a-supporting lowerendthereof a and driving medium for, the scraper assembly 90: The shaft13-4 is in axial alignment with the'motor-shaft 126 and is operativelyconnected thereto byaicoupling assembly l36.-

As shown in FIGS. 1 and-9,"two.guide rails 'Mllhnd 142 aremounted on thesupporting "bracket 13(3- and are movable bodily therewith. Theguide-rail ""leads the rotatable scraper assembly 96-with respecttion-oftravel of'the while the guide rail 142 trails the'scraper assembly; The

guide rails Bit and 142 are provided for the purposeof tov the direc--panels 64 through the machine,

guiding the forward end of-the panel 64'into proper reg-1 ister with'thescraper assembly 90 so that the adjacent" longitudinal-edge of the panel,will assume a substanv' tially tangential position with respect to thescraper in strumentalities as willbe described'in detailhereafter.

The scraper assembly 92 is rotatable about-a fixed ver-' tical' axis atin FIG. 1.

the right-hand side-of the machine as viewed- The twoscraper assemblies-9fl'and 92 are identical in construction so that a description of onewill suffice for the other;

The scraper assembly 9 2 hasits. central shaft .134 drivably connectedby a coupling 144 to.

the motor shaft Moot an electric motor M The motor M; is supportedadjacent to the lower end ofa downward extensionid (FIG. 1) of thevertical post 46.".

The Scraper Assemblies 90- and 92 As previously' stated, .thescraper.assemblies 9tl-xand 92;. are; identical so that :a description "of the.assembly .90..

which is shown in sembly 92.. The assembly '90 :includes. thepreviously.- rnentioned central; rotary shaft 134,- this shaft havingfixedly mounted thereon for rotation therewith spaced circularcarrierdisks 'and.152.-: An annular rods F154 extends between the disks 150;arranged in circurnferentially spaced relationship. Each rod has looselymounted thereon. a series of individually rotatable scraper elements 156which are in the form of se ies of verti l. and 152 and are detail inFIG. 6 will sufiice for the ag-;.

toothed disks: of generally stanshaped c nfiguration and:

theperipheral-zteeth 158 of which areof relatively sharp 1configuration-y. As :shoWnin FIG'. 7, each-scraperclement 156 isprovided with a central holed-6t through which-its associated'rod154.'1oosely extends. The diam? eter of the hole; 169'issomewhatzgreater than the'diameter of the --ro d- 154 so thatthe-scraper. elementcmayi .float loosely onwthe rod and,unden-theyinfiuence: of centrifu-gal.-.7

force duringrotation of the assembly, 90,? assumeian eccen-- trioposition relatively to the axis of therod; The various scraper elements156, being independently movable, may thus follow the irregular ornotched contour of the panel side or longitudinal frame members 72during passage of the panels '64 through the side cleaning station S.

T he Panel Guiding and Impelling lnstrlcmentalitz'es As best shown inFIGS. 1, 4 and 9, the carriage is normally and yieldingly biasedinwardly of the machine framework by means of a counterweight 17% whichis attached to the free end of a cable 172. The latter passes over apulley 1'74 and has its other end attached to a lug 176 (see FIG. 4) ona block 178 which, in turn, is mounted on the horizontal plate of thecarriage 60. A second block is formed with a socket :182 for receptiontherein of a pin 184. The socket 132 is designed for selective verticalregister with a series of elongated slots 186 in a fixed transverselyextending bar 188 which extends between the two straps 54 of thesuperstructure.

The pin 184 is adapted-to be selectively passed through the variousslots 186 and received in the socket 182 to lock the carriage inapproximate positions transversely of the framework so that the distancebetween the two scraper assemblies 90 and 92 will roughly approximatethe width of a given group of identical panels 64 which are successivelyto be fed to the machine.

The weight of the counterweight 173 is such that it will pull thecarriage 60 bodily inwardly of the framework and cause the scraperassembly 9% to approach the scraper assembly 92 to the end that the twoassemblies will confine a panel 64 therebetween with each assemblyexerting the necessary pressure upon the longitudinal frame members 72to properly clean the same.

Inasmuch as the various scraper elements I156 are loosely and floatinglymounted on their respective rods 154, and inasmuch as they areindividually shiftable in a radial direction relatively to the centralaxis of the assem blies 90 and 92 with which they are associated, thesescraper elements will follow the irregular contour of the a longitudinalframe members 72 at the respective elevations .at which they operate.For example, in FIG. 8, the scraper assembly 9t? is shown in operativerelationship with respect to a longitudinal frame member 72 during aconcrete dislodging operation. It is to be noted that the uppermostscraper elements 152 on the adjacent rod 154 operate .upon the uppermostmarginal rib 76 of the frame member 72 while the lowermost scraperelements operate upon the lower marginal rib. Certain intermediatescraper elements will be projected into the rectangular slot -86 todislodge concrete therefrom. Still other scraper elements will operateupon the web portion 73 of the frame member. The action of the variousscraper elements 152 is an impact one due to the fact that theseelements are floatingly or loosely mounted on the rods 154 and areslammed" against the outer surface of the longitudinal frame member 72as the scraper assembly 9% as a whole is rotated under the drivinginfluence of the motor As each panel 64 approaches the side cleaningstation S, the adjacent leading corner of the panel moves against theguide rail 140 with the result that the panel is forced against the webportion 30 of the channel member 32 and confined bet-ween such channelmember and the guide rail 140. A hold-down wheel 19% is rotatablymounted on a horizontal shaft 192. The latter is suitably jour nailed inbearings 194 (see FIG. 3) which are mounted on the machine framework.The hold-down wheel engages the upper face of the panel facing 76 andstabilizes the panel as the same slides or moves therebeneath on theroller supports 62. V

The drive belt 96 (see FIGS. 3 and 7) has a horizontal reach sectionwhich passes over four of the roller supports 62 and the belt alsopasses beneath a drive pulley 195 which is mounted on the output shaft196 of a gear reduction device 198 the input shaft of which isoperativ'ely connected through a suitable coupling (not shown) to thedrive shaft (also not shown) of an electric motor M The motor M and gearreduction device 198 are mounted on a-supporting bracket 206 which issuitably carried by the machine framework.

motor shaft 234 of an electric motor M The Brushing Station B Referringnow to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the rotary brush as sembly 94 includes a rotarybrush proper 210 which is mounted on a brush shaft 2-12, the ends ofwhich are rotatably journalled adjacent to the distal ends of a pair oftiltable arms 214 (see FIG. 2). The inner or proximate end of each arm214 is pivoted as at 216 to a bracket 213 which is mounted on themachine framework. Each arm 214 carries a block 220' through which thereloosely extends a threaded rod 222. The lower end of such rod is pivotedas at 22s to the bracket 218 and two nuts 226 and 223, above and belowthe block respectively, are threadedly received on the rod 222 so thatthe elevation of the block, as well as the associate arm 214, may beadjusted to raise or lower brush, as the case may be, and effect thedesired degree of pressure of the brush on the panel facing '71 as apanel 64- passes beneath the brush.

One end of the brush shaft 212 carries a pulley 230 which is adapted tobe driven from a pulley 232 on the A belt 236 passes over both pulleysand connects the same in driving and driven relationship. The motor M ismounted on a floating motor support 2% which is pivoted as at 242 to themachine framework so that it may swing downwardly and compensate for anylost motion arising due to lowering of the brush shaft 212.

T he Lubricating Station L As the panels 64 emerge from the brushingstation B and enter the lubricating station L, they are adapted to passbeneath the lubricating roller :95. The roller 95 is a floating rollerby reason of the fact that it is carried at the outer ends of a pair ofarms 2 34 the inner ends of which are pivoted as at 246 in blocks 248 onthe machine framework. The lowermost position of the lubricating roller95 is determined by means of pins 249 which are carried by the arms 244and are engageable with the longitudinal frame members 20 and 32,respectively. The roller 95 includes a roller body 250 and a covering252 of an absorbent material such as felt or the like. A supply of asuitable lubricating and conditioning oil is adapted to be fed to theroller 95 from an overlying horizontal tubular drip pipe 254 having aseries of perforations 256 in the lower side thereof. From suchperforations, oil is adapted to drip onto the absorbent covering 252 ofthe underlying roller 95. Oil is fed to one end of the pipe 254 througha conduit 258 leading from an oil reservoir 26%. The latter is supportedon standards 262 which are mounted on the side bar 12. A shut-off valve264 is interposed in the conduit 258.

In its lowermost position, the lubricating roller 95 is spaced above thegeneral plane of the series of roller supports 62 a distance slightlyless than the vertical thickness of the panels 64 passing through themachine so that when any given panel encounters the roller 95, thelatter will ride up on the panel and traverse the upper face of thepanel facing 70 as the panel passes through the lubrieating station L.The roller 95 deposits a film or thin coating of oil on the adjacent orinner surfaces of the panel facings 743 to the end that the facings aremaintained in proper condition and do not permit concrete to Thedischarge station D is devoid of operating instrumentalities other thanthe roller supports 62 which lie within the zone defined by thisstation. As previously described, the panels 64 arriving at thedischarge station D move under the impetus of succeeding panels in theseries of panels undergoing treatment. The panels 64 leaving thelubricating station L move onto the rollers 62 at the discharge stationD and remain thereuntil such'time as a succeeding panel issuing from thelubricating station engages the panel andforces the same from themachine.

Operation of the Machine In view of the previous description of thehandling and treatment of successive panels 64 which are fed to themachine at the receiving stationRand-pass successively through the sidecleaning station S, the brushing station B, and the lubricating stationL, a detailed description of the operation of the machine isnotnecessary. It is deemed sufiicient to state that the machine isoperable under the controlof a single operator, who, at the commencementof any givenrun of panels through the machine, will select the properslot 186 (see FIG. 4) for placement of the pin 184 so as to locate thecarriage 60 at an approximate transverse position relatively to themachine frameworkwhere the distance between the two scraper assembliesis .slightlyless than-the minimum overalljwidthof theparticularsizeofpanels involvedinthe run. It will be understood, of course, that foreconomy of operation, a given run of panels will include a group ofpanels of the same width.

After the pin 184 has been passed through the proper slot 186 and intothe socket 182 in the block 181), the carriage 60 will be free to movetransversely of the machine framework throughout a limited range asdetermined by the length of the slot. This range of movement issufficient to permit the guide rail 140, which moves bodily with thecarriage, to exert a camming action on the adjacent panel frame member72 and shift the carriage to a position wherein the two scraperassemblies 90 and 92 engage the sides of the panel therebetween, whileat the same time, the pin 184 has freedom of movement in the selectedslot 186.

Due to the looseness of the various scraper elements or disks 156 (seeFIGS. 6 and 7) on their respective vertical rods 5, what may bedescribed as a hammering or impacting operation will take place eachtime one of the elements makes a complete revolution about the axis ofthe rod 154 on which it is mounted. As previously de scribed, theindividual scraper elements will follow the contour of the adjacentpanel side and effectively remove concrete therefrom by a combinedimpacting and scraping operation.

The brushing action which takes place at the brushing station B requiresbut little description. The brush assembly is adjustable for bristlewear by manipulation of the adjusting nuts 226 and 228 on the threadedrod 222. The direction of rotation of the brush is preferably, but notnecessarily, in such a direction that the loosened concrete or othermaterial issuing from the panel facing 70 will be fiung rearwardly ofthe machine toward the discharge station so that this loosened materialwill not collect on oncoming panels and require more than one encounterwith the brush assembly.

The lubricating action which takes place at the lubricating stationunder the influence of the absorbent oilsoaked roller covering 252serves to seal any pores in the panel facing 70, as well as to otherwisepreserve this facing. The application of oil to the panel facing alsoserves to facilitate loosening the panel from the concrete bond whichexists during actual use of the panel after the concrete of a giveninstallation has become hardened or set. Various oils which are suitablefor this purpose are available on the present market, one such oil whichhas given excellent service being known as Kleen-Crete, the trademarkname of the Union Petroleum Refining Company of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrange ment of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, only in-1d sofar as the; invention has particularly been pointed out in theaccompanying claims isthe, same to be limited.

Having thus described the, invention-what I claim. as newand desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for reconditioningconcrete wall form..

of the path of travelof the panels, a second scraper device mounted onsaid carriagefor movement bodily therewith and for independent-rotationabout-a vertical axis,

and constant. tension means yieldinglybiasing-said carriage in thedirection of said first scraper device, said panel being adapted uponentering said zone to pass between said scraper devices so that thesecond scraper device engages the other frame member and forces thepanel bodily into operative engagement with said first scraper device.

2. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forthin claim 1 and including, additionally, a hold-down roller mounted forrotation about a horizontal axis above the level of said roller supportsand adapted tractionally to engage the upper face of said panel facingduring passage of the panel through said zone.

3. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forthin claim 1 and wherein said constant tension biasing means comprises acable having one end attached to the carriage, a pulley mounted on theframework and over which the cable passes, and a Weight on the free endof the cable.

4. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forthin claim 1 and including, additionally, motor-driven means for forciblyimpelling the panels forwardly on said roller supports through saidzone.

5. In a machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels havingrectangular panel facings and parallel side frame members, a machineframework establishing a side cleaning zone, a plurality of horizontallydisposed roller supports for conducting the panels successively throughsaid station horizontally and end-wise with the operative faces of thepanel facings presented upwardly, a first rotary scraper device mountedfor rotation about a fixed vertical axis and positioned to engage one ofthe frame members of a panel passing through said zone, a carriagemounted for transverse shifting movement toward and away from the firstrotary scraper device and transversely of the path of travel of thepanels, a second scraper device mounted on the carriage for movementbodily therewith and for independent rotation about a vertical axis,means yieldingly biasing said carriage in the direction of said firstscraper device whereby the panel, upon entering between the scraperdevices, will have the other frame member thereof engaged by the secondscraper device so that the panel will be forced bodily into operativeengagement with the first scraper device, and a series of limit stops onsaid framework designed for selective engagement with an element on thecarriage for limiting the extent to which said carriage may move in thedirection of said first scraper device.

6. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forthin claim 5 and including, additionally, a guide rail mounted on thecarriage and positioned in the path of movement of the panel anddesigned for engagement with the panel as the latter approaches saidzone for causing deflection of the carriage to a position wherein thesecond scraper device carried thereby is moved panels successivelythrough. ,endwise with the operative; presented upwardly, a firstv toengage, one, of the frame; members of a panel passingthrough-saidzone, acarriage. mounted for transverse. shifting ,movement toward and awayfrom the first rotary scraper device and transversely 11 to a positionof approximate longitudinal register with said other side frame member.

7. In a machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels havingrectangular panelfacings and parallel side frame members, a machineframework establishing a side cleaning zone, a plurality of horizontallydisposed roller supports for conducting the panels successively throughsaid station horizontally and endwise with the operative faces of thepanel facings presented upwardly, a first rotary scraper device mountedfor rotation about a fixed vertical axis and positioned to engage one ofthe frame members of a panel passing through said Zone, a carriagemounted for transverse shifting movement toward and away from the firstrotary scraper device and transversely of the path of travel of thepanels, a second scraper device mounted on the carriage for movementbodily therewith and for independent rotation about a vertical axis,means yieldingly biasing said carriage in the direction of said firstscraper device whereby the panel, upon entering between the scraperdevices, will have the other frame member thereof engaged by the secondscraper device so that the panel will be forced bodily into operativeengagement with the first scraper device, said framework including atransversely extending frame bar having a series of spaced elongatedaligned slots therein, and a limit stop pin selectively receivablethrough said slots and designed for engagement with a shoulder on thecarriage for limiting the extent to which thelatter may be moved towardsaid first scraper device. I

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS1,758,647 Burrell et al. May 13, 1930 2,333,285 \VellnitZ Nov. 2, 19432,835,909 Carlstrorn May 27, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 297,240 SwitzerlandMay 17, 1954 305,418 Great Britain Feb. 7, 1929 839,119 Great BritainJune 29, 1960

1. IN A MACHINE FOR RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS HAVINGRECTANGULAR PANEL FACINGS AND PARALLEL SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, A MACHINEFRAMEWORK ESTABLISHING A SIDE CLEANING ZONE, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED ROLLER SUPPORTS FOR CONDUCTING THE PANELS SUCCESSIVELY THROUGHSAID ZONE HORIZONTALLY AND ENDWISE WITH THE OPERATIVE FACES OF THE PANELFACINGS PRESENTED UPWARDLY, A FIRST ROTARY SCRAPER DEVICE MOUNTED FORROTATION ABOUT A FIXED VERTICAL AXIS AND POSITIONED TO ENGAGE ONE OF THEFRAME MEMBERS OF A PANEL PASSING THROUGH SAID ZONE, A CARRIAGE MOUNTEDFOR TRANSVERSE SHIFTING MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE FIRST ROTARYSCRAPER DEVICE AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE PANELS, ASECOND SCRAPER DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR MOVEMENT BODILYTHEREWITH AND FOR INDEPENDENT ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, ANDCONSTANT TENSION MEANS YIELDINGLY BIASING SAID CARRIAGE IN THE DIRECTIONOF SAID FIRST SCRAPER DEVICE, SAID PANEL BEING ADAPTED UPON ENTERINGSAID ZONE TO PASS BETWEEN SAID SCRAPER DEVICES SO THAT THE SECONDSCRAPER DEVICE ENGAGES THE OTHER FRAME MEMBER AND FORCES THE PANELBODILY INTO OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST SCRAPER DEVICE.